Micro Atx Slots
What makes Micro ATX motherboards so popular for desktop computers? Find out if this form factor is right for you and how to choose a MicroATX motherboard right here.
When ATX and MicroATX (also known as mATX) motherboards were introduced back in 1995, ATX quickly took over as the most popular form factor for desktop computers while the compact Micro ATX fell by the wayside as a niche product.
Modern micro ATX motherboards also offer either 1 or 2 NVME slots, which can be used to install much faster NVME SSD for excellent storage access speeds.
Micro-ATX (37) E-ATX (29) 3.5' SBC. DDR4-2666MHz, in 16 DIMM slots; Up to 2TB Intel® Optane™ DC Persistent Memory in memory mode (Cascade Lake only. The ATX motherboard also assists in handling high-quality items and office computer programs. Benefits: High performance. Have four slots of RAM. Lots of PCIe Slots. Buyer: Larger sizes cannot be compared to standard computer cases. Micro ATX: The Micro ATX Motherboard was first introduced in 1997 by Intel. The size of the Micro ATX is 244 x 244 mm (9.6″ x 9.6″). On the other hand, the size of the Mini ITX is 170 x 170 mm (6.7″ x 6.7″). When you compare the size of them, the winner is the Mini ITX. Another thing to compare when talking about Micro ATX vs Mini ITX is RAM slots. For Micro ATX, it supports up to 4 memory slots. The ATX board has five expansion slots while the Micro ATX board has three expansion slots. The number of drive bays in a ATX form factor is more than that of in a Micro ATX form factor. A Micro ATX board can be installed in an ATX chassis but the other way is not around is not possible.
Fast forward to today and things are looking quite different - In recent years, Micro ATX has been steadily replacing ATX as the preferred form factor for mainstream consumers.
Why the newfound love for MicroATX? With more and more features integrated into the CPU and motherboard chipset, a large ATX motherboard with seven expansion slots is starting to look like overkill for most people. Current motherboards don't need a dedicated sound card, and integrated graphics has evolved to a stage where it's able to match low-end discrete graphics cards.
See the image below for a motherboard size comparison between MicroATX (24.4 x 24.4 cm, 9.6 x 9.6 in) vs. ATX (30.5 x 24.4 cm, 12 x 9.6 in):
When Should You Buy a Micro ATX Motherboard?
1. You are going after the cheapest possible motherboard
With a bit of homework and bargain hunting, you will discover most of the lowest-priced motherboards are MicroATX ones. This comes as no surprise, since the smaller Mini ITX motherboard calls for more refined manufacturing techniques while the larger ATX board requires more components.
On top of that, most Micro ATX cases are able to accept standard components such as ATX power supplies and full-height expansion cards so gives you more (cheap) choices for your other hardware as well.
That being said, we want to add that Micro ATX motherboards come at all price points... from the bargain basement boards to the top-end models with all the bells and whistles.
2. You want a compact computer for flexible placement
Some people prefer to have their computers on the desk while others rather have them sit on the floor. A Micro-ATX mini tower allows you to do both with comfort.
The diminutive Mini-ITX case looks good on a desk, but it's too short for you to leave it on the floor (you'll have to do a sit-and-reach each time to turn on the computer).
And sure, noone's stopping you from hefting a ATX full tower onto the table, but imagine the amount of workspace it's going to take up (assuming that your table is able to support its weight)... plus imagine the hassle if your USB ports, audio ports and power switch are located at the top of the case.
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3. You want a computer that's good enough for most purposes
There are no official figures, but it's quite safe to say that a mATX motherboard are able to satisfy the needs of at least three quarters of computer users. Other than price, that's the other major reason for the Micro ATX form factor gaining widespread popularity with mainstream consumers.
However, being a jack of all trades also implies Micro ATX isn't the best form factor for some specific needs.
For example, the even smaller Mini-ITX is a better choice in general if you're building a home theater PC, NAS or a semi-portable computer. At the other end, power users such as serious gamers, overclockers, server admins and graphics designers will be better off with the full-sized ATX form factor.
How to Choose the Perfect Micro ATX Motherboard
Recommended Motherboard CPU Combos
Budget Computer:
AMD Athlon 3000G CPU
Gigabyte B450M DS3H Motherboard
Mid Range Computer:
AMD Ryzen 5 3400G CPU
Gigabyte B450 Aorus M Motherboard
Gaming Computer:
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU
Asus AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus Motherboard
Home Theater PC:
AMD Ryzen 3 3200G CPU
Gigabyte B450 I Aorus Pro Wi-Fi Motherboard
Click here for our buyer's guide to the best motherboard CPU combos.
RAM Slots
Most budget MicroATX motherboards have two RAM slots, while mid to high end models tend to offer four slots. So should you go for four slots or make do with just two?
The answer will depend on the intended use for your computer. We highly recommend that you read our 'How Much RAM Do You Need' article for more details.
Our general advice is to go for a motherboard with four RAM slots... Unless budget is a big concern or you're certain that two slots will suffice for now and the foreseeable future. You can always begin with two RAM sticks and leave two free slots in case you need more RAM for the future.
Expansion Slots
Micro ATX mainboards can have two, three or four expansion slots. Given that modern CPUs and motherboards come with tons of integrated features (e.g. video, audio, network capabilities), most light to moderate users will do just fine with two expansion slots.
What matters more (than the number of slots) is what type of expansion slots are on the motherboard. If possible, always try to go for PCI Express slots (unless you still have older expansion cards that make use of the outdated PCI slots).
If you intend to use your computer for gaming, then it's quite essential to have at least one PCI Express x 16 slot so you can install a discrete graphics card. Heavy gamers can go a step further and opt for Micro ATX motherboards that support multiple graphics cards (Nvidia SLI, AMD CrossFireX).
SATA Connectors
Every internal hard drive and optical drive requires an individual SATA connector. Modern mATX motherboards have at least four such connectors, which is enough for most users. What's more important is to make sure that you have at least one SATA 3 connector (vs. the slower SATA 2) if you intend to install a SATA 3 solid state drive.
Power Phases
In general, a motherboard with more power phases is able to deliver cleaner and more stable power to the CPU and RAM... allowing the them to hit higher overclocks. Having more power phases also means less load on motherboard transistors, prolonging their lifespan.
If you intend to overclock your CPU and RAM on a Micro ATX motherboard, it should at least have a 4 + 2 power phase (6 + 2 is better). 4/6 here is the number of phases for the CPU while 2 refers to the number of phases for the memory (RAM) controller.
All the power phases in the world is not going to matter if you don't have a high quality VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) to begin with. To avoid substandard VRMs, stick to reputable motherboard manufacturers: Asus, Gigabyte, ASRock, MSI.
Others
Whenever possible, always choose Micro ATX motherboards with USB 3.0 back panel ports and/or USB 3.0 front panel connectors. They make a big difference over USB 2.0 (two to four times real-world speed improvement) when you're hooking up your computer to USB 3.0 storage devices (flash drives and external hard drives).
SEE ALSO: Recommended Motherboard CPU Combos
MOTHERBOARD GUIDE
- Recommended Motherboard CPU Combos
- The Difference Between USB 2.0 and 3.0
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Micro Atx Slots Slot
ATX:
As a return to the original AT format, Intel released the ATX model in 1995.
The current ATX format has a large motherboard 12 by 9.6 inches long.
This type of motherboard has four additional RAM locks. You can get up to 16 GB of RAM cards on your desktop.
This makes the ATX motherboard suitable for gamers and business applications running on complex RAM systems. The ATX motherboard is paired with onboard drivers for external drivers, the motherboard also enhances the installation of video cards which can be useful if you need to fit image cards and more.
You can add other types of ATX boards at least 13 inches to help you hold some extra items for your PC.
When dealing with additional types of ATX board, you should also consider whether your motherboard will fit your PC.
We’ll take a look at the ATX motherboard and highlight some of the unique features that make it great for games.
Size:
The ATX format measures 305 by 204 mm.
It has a large size that can accommodate multiple ports and add ons.
You can add video cards that access the AXT motherboard.
This format has a wide range of variations on different boards to accommodate large fans and other PC modules.
The larger ATX format will be suitable for your game needs.
RAM:
The ATX format motherboard has up to four RAM spaces that can insert up to 32 GB RAM cards per device.
It has excellent performance when running high RAM applications on your computer. The availability of four slots of RAM makes it easy to run the most advanced games on your PC.
16GB of RAM has plenty of space to run the game on your pc, having additional Ram’s Slots that gives you much more than the need for the required space.
Professional gamers can use this type of board to build high-performance computers when playing games that require high CPUs.
PCIe Slots:
ATX motherboards have seven spaces that you can use to install additional devices on your PC.
The presence of multiple PCIes means that you can have multiple video cards and modems attached to your PC.
These additions will help you get better quality graphics and performance from your pc games. These capture areas can also accommodate different sound cards that help give you higher sound effects for your game to ultimately improve your mood.
Some ATX PCIe Slots can hold SSDs and additional HDD disks that can work when storing large data files.
Price:
The ATX motherboard comes at a much higher price compared to other motherboards such as the Mini ITX and Micro ATX.
These boards have high end features whose name allows for much better performance than other boards. Motherboards add a lot of add-ons to give you high quality performance especially if you are working on high performance.
The ATX motherboard can match a good gaming board if you are willing to pay more. It is more than just being able to manage even the most sought after games out there. The ATX motherboard also assists in handling high-quality items and office computer programs.
Benefits:
High performance.
Have four slots of RAM.
Lots of PCIe Slots.
Buyer:
Larger sizes cannot be compared to standard computer cases.
- Micro ATX:
The Micro ATX Motherboard was first introduced in 1997 by Intel.
The product has a back-up feature that allows us to use both boardbooms in one computer case.
Micro ATX motherboards have the same power connectors as their larger ATX versions.
A feature that makes it easy to switch between different motherboards.
The Micro ATX motherboard has a very small size that gives you a few expansion options.
The motherboard can support two external layouts of RAM cards and there are fewer PCIe scenes in comparison to its larger variety.
This motherboard keeps good functionality which makes it great to use your PC games. Each of its slips can hold up to 32 GB of RAM space, making it capable of capturing even the most important PC games on the market.
Their small size allows you to fit this board across most of your computers. The board does not have additional expansion space that greatly limits its ability to hold additional additions.
You can also use this motherboard to run standard computer programs for your business.
We’ll take a look at some of the MicroATX women’s board items that make it ideal for sports.
Size:
The Micro ATX motherboard counts 244mm by 244mm.
Smaller size allows you to fit your board in smaller situations. Ideally, the MicroATX motherboard can fit in large ATX PC cases because both work using the same power supply.
This small size also reduces the number of spaces available for additional extensions. Gamers opt for memory cards with more PCI which makes it easier for them to improve in game features. For example, you have only two slots of RAM in this version and the PCIe options are limited to just one.
This mamaboard format can handle most of your game needs but can also be challenging in dealing with highly sought after computer business programs.
RAM:
This product has two RAM slots that can hold up to 32GB cards.
You get more space to remember to run more Games.
Your computer will get better performance by using this women’s board. Another variant of the Micro ATX motherboard has four RAM slots, giving you more space to launch your gaming programs.
PCIe Slots
The Micro ATX can hold up to four PCIe Slots per unit. This gives you extra options when you want to improve your mood.
You can add sound cards, video cards and picture cards to enhance your basic games.
Price:
Micro ATX board type is cheaper than other ATX formats.
The board is common on standard computers and most people prefer a small variation of high quality performance.
This includes providing gamers with a high performance product that can play most of their games and includes additional additional support areas for different enhancements.
Benefits
Smaller size
It can run on standard size computers
Efficiency
Finish
Smaller size means more holes for the board.
The decision
Most PC gamers like to compare two motherboards especially the ATX and Micro ATX motherboard.
Both motherboards have a lot in common, they both use a power outlet and can hold a lot of extra spaces.
Boards have different variations that end up being different and suitable for different uses.
Gamers wishing to adopt any mother board should base their choice on a different thinking.
Some may prefer larger sizes with more spaces while others may prefer smaller clear boards.
First we will look at each different difference between the two motherboards before choosing the best gaming motherboard.
Size:
When it comes to size, the ATX format gets points.
This motherboard is slightly larger than its Micro ATX rivalry. Some ATX format models have extensions that make mamaboard very large.
Being large in size is a great advantage for gamers because you can add some additional features like SDDS and video cards to your PC.
Having a smaller size does not give the Micro ATX motherboard a lot of trouble. The small size can still run most video games without any drives and it is possible to use a small motherboard in multi-compact spaces.
For example, a small USB ATX board would fit the size of a large ATX model.
RAM:
Both of these types of models have the same end capabilities of RAM. This prepares them for the powerful RAM gambling.
You may decide to add more RAM to your PC by installing RAM cards in additional additional locations. The ATX motherboard can support up to four RAM files.
Each slot can accommodate up to 32GB of RAM cards which gives me plenty of game space
The Micro ATX model has the same amount of RAM even though some models have fewer RAM ribs.
Some variants of the motherboard can support up to four RAM units. A 32GB RAM card per plot will give you enough RAM to use even the most demanding game.
Most games require 16 GB of RAM to be played without glitches. Both computer motherboards
Micro Atx 4 Ram Slots
PCIe Slots:
Micro Atx Slots Game
The ATX motherboard has sections where you can add other extensions to your PC.
By comparison, the MicroATX board has only four lines.
Using the ATX model gives you more space to wrap your graphics cards; sound cards video cards and other extensions. Some slots can handle additional storage from SDDs and manual disks.
German players would love the opportunity to have more slots to improve their playing skills.
The Micro ATX model has four slots to add add-ons. This gives it a big edge when it needs some extra multiplayer features.
Price:
The ATX motherboard has a higher price when compared to its smaller version.
This kids board has more features than the Micro ATX and can make its own smaller version than the number of tasks it can accomplish on time.
A high performance motherboard is well suited for working with efficient data systems.
This mother board operates at head office to manage the required computer assignments.
MicroATX is cheap and easy to find.
The price is very affordable to sports enthusiasts and gives you a good price. It can meet your PC gaming needs at a low price.
This makes the MicroATX motherboard the best play board.
You can put it in small and crowded spaces with their wide variety. In addition, the motherboard can work differently with the ATX format because it can match its desired size.
The motherboard is small and comes at a cheap price and is very available to gamers. It has a good return on investment while providing excellent performance.
ATX’s motherboard is more suitable for workplaces than play.
Its features far exceed the basic requirements of most PC games.
You also get a price tag higher than the MicroATX board. A feature that makes it inaccessible to most consumers.